White algae

[Mellisa]

I have a 75 gal reef tank. 20 lbs live rock. Setup running for 5 months. 4 fush, 2 small anemones, 4 small soft coral frags, 5 Lil crabs. I keep battling a snotty algae slime. I do 10% partial week. All water parameter good. Fish and viral thriving except the rocks are collecting a clearing fuzzy slime, does not blow off with a baster. Grows snotty strings. I have tried everythung. Fish get fed twice a week flakes and it is a pinch they eat all within seconds sof cannot say overfeeding. Water crystal clear. Oh yes, have 1 big powered set up high two dropped in back on timers. Help! About fed up.

 

[120reefkeeper]

If you could post some pictures, that would help us a lot to help you. [emoji41]

 

[Mellisa]

I have cleaned most stringy snot. But clear fuzzy on rocks, frags etc tough. I been told is bacterial bloom but honestly cannot determine what causing if that is. Not vodka dowing nor have plug ins around or other deodarizers.

 

[jsker]

That phase drove me nuts, I bought a couple of turbo snails and started dosing Po4-No3-x and that dropped my phosphates, and nitrates. Test for phosphates and nitrates look like you maybe having an issue with a build up in you sand bed with leftover food.

 

[jsker]

oh, there are several way to dose carbon. No3-Po4-x is not the only one

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Im curious what part of the country you are in. and where did you get your live rock. is it "real reef rock"?

It looks like a diatom bloom, or perhaps an algae. Not an unusual phase, but yucky.

Im kinda a granola head reefer I suppose. Are you running a refugium? or have a sump for one? a hang on fuge is not much $$,
I also like bacterial and algal diversity(and out competing nuisance ones for nutrients), I have and do used Fiji mud,small can about $15, It is from the ocean for bacteria's and Im pretty sure its where I got so many colors of corraline algaes and encrusting sponges.

FWIW in this phase many of the diatom species are feeding on silicates in the rock. once the silicates have been leeched out it generally leaves. Some are more aggressive in rare cases.

"Real reef rock" I have seen here causing bacterial blooms when used in conjunction with other canned bacterial supplements(esp for cycling) and it does pass too. the bacterial blooms I have seen dont have that funny grainy texture your slime has, more diatoms or algaes.